and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to focus on Jezebel's cruelty, but notice Obadiah's quiet, strategic act of defiance. He didn't just hide the prophets; he hid them in fifties, a specific detail that highlights his careful planning and deep commitment to preserving God's people even when no one else dared.
and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, the land of Israel has been suffering under a devastating drought, a direct consequence of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel's promotion of the pagan god Baal. Obadiah, a devout servant of the Lord in Ahab's own household, secretly defied Jezebel's brutal persecution of God's prophets by rescuing and hiding a large group of them. This act of faith sets the stage for Elijah's dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
When a nation turns to evil, and leaders persecute God's people, what does it look like to stay faithful? Obadiah’s actions here are a powerful example.
The Shadow of Jezebel
King Ahab, influenced by his wicked wife Jezebel, led Israel into deep idolatry. Jezebel, a foreigner, aggressively sought to eradicate the worship of the LORD, targeting His prophets with deadly force. This wasn't just a disagreement; it was a brutal, systemic attempt to wipe out God's messengers.
Obadiah's Hidden Courage
In this context, Obadiah, who was in a high-ranking position as the palace administrator, risked everything. Instead of aligning with the prevailing evil, he secretly rescued and sustained 100 prophets. Hiding them in two separate caves, 50 at a time, shows both strategic thinking and profound courage. He defied the king's decree and Jezebel's wrath, providing essential sustenance – bread and water – the bare necessities that symbolized hope and continued life for these threatened men.
His actions demonstrate that faithfulness isn't always about grand public pronouncements, but often about quiet, dangerous acts of preservation and care when evil is in power.
When it seems like the enemy is winning and God’s people are being wiped out, how do we know God hasn’t abandoned them? Obadiah’s secret ministry points to God’s providential care.
The Invisible Hand of God
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Jezebel’s purge was intended to be absolute. Yet, the fact that 100 prophets survived and were cared for speaks volumes. While Obadiah is the human agent, his ability to gather, hide, and feed these men points to a divine orchestration. God’s plan wasn't defeated by Jezebel’s violence; it was preserved through the courage of one man and the sustenance provided.
Faith in a Hostile Land
This episode is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest hours of Israel’s history, God ensured a remnant survived. He works through individuals like Obadiah to protect His message and His messengers. The provision of 'bread and water' symbolizes God’s faithful, albeit sometimes hidden, sustenance for His people, ensuring His purposes would ultimately prevail against all opposition.
Understand the original words
nābîʾ · Hebrew Noun
A divinely appointed spokesperson who communicates the message, will, and heart of God to His people. They often function as covenant enforcers, warning of judgment or promising restoration.
This verse plunges us into a moment of intense religious persecution. Obadiah's courageous act highlights the underground resistance and desperate measures taken to preserve faith during Jezebel's brutal suppression of Yahweh's prophets.
c. 874-853 BC
Reign of Ahab and Jezebel
Ahab, king of Israel, married Jezebel, a Phoenician princess, who aggressively promoted the worship of Baal and Asherah throughout the northern kingdom. This led to intense religious conflict.
During Ahab's reign— this verse
Jezebel persecutes prophets of the LORD
Jezebel actively sought to eradicate the worship of Yahweh, executing many prophets of the LORD. This created a climate of fear and drove prophets into hiding.
During Ahab's reign
Obadiah hides prophets
Obadiah, a devout official in Ahab's court, risked his life to secretly shelter and provide for 100 prophets in two caves, protecting them from Jezebel's purge.
During Ahab's reign
Elijah confronts Ahab
The prophet Elijah, a key figure opposing Jezebel's religious agenda, eventually confronted King Ahab, leading to the dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel.
c. 853 BC
Battle of Qarqar
Ahab of Israel participated in this major battle against the Assyrian Empire, demonstrating his role as a regional power, despite the internal religious turmoil.
This passage shows Elijah's own despair and feeling of being the only faithful one left, mirroring the dire situation Obadiah was trying to remedy by hiding the prophets.
Jeremiah 1:4-5This shows God's calling of Jeremiah to prophesy, even in times of great opposition and spiritual decline, similar to the context of Obadiah's actions to preserve God's messengers.
Romans 11:2-4Paul references Elijah's complaint about being the only one left, but God reveals He had preserved 7,000 faithful individuals, offering a divine perspective on the preservation of His people even in dark times.
Hebrews 11:38This verse in the Hall of Faith speaks generally of those who were persecuted and destitute, living in deserts and mountains, directly reflecting the dangerous circumstances faced by the prophets Obadiah hid.
It's easy to focus on Jezebel's cruelty, but notice Obadiah's quiet, strategic act of defiance. He didn't just hide the prophets; he hid them in fifties, a specific detail that highlights his careful planning and deep commitment to preserving God's people even when no one else dared.
Just before this, the land of Israel has been suffering under a devastating drought, a direct consequence of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel's promotion of the pagan god Baal. Obadiah, a devout servant of the Lord in Ahab's own household, secretly defied Jezebel's brutal persecution of God's prophets by rescuing and hiding a large group of them. This act of faith sets the stage for Elijah's dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
Just before this, the land of Israel has been suffering under a devastating drought, a direct consequence of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel's promotion of the pagan god Baal. Obadiah, a devout servant of the Lord in Ahab's own household, secretly defied Jezebel's brutal persecution of God's prophets by rescuing and hiding a large group of them. This act of faith sets the stage for Elijah's dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
"and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)" — It's easy to focus on Jezebel's cruelty, but notice Obadiah's quiet, strategic act of defiance. He didn't just hide the prophets; he hid them in fifties, a specific detail that highlights his caref…
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Last reviewed October 2026